But a member of its ruling Quetta Shura told The Telegraph that dozens of key leaders were not present at the secret meeting in Pakistan, which was dominated by Mullah Mansoor's supporters.

“Mansoor was elected by his own group, and we will not accept him as the supreme leader of Taliban,” he said on condition of anonymity. “And we cannot call it a decision without a consensus.”

He said he walked out alongside Mullah Yacoob only 35 minutes into the two-day meeting, which ended with those present swearing loyalty to Mullah Mansoor.

Mullah Qayum Zakir, until recently the Taliban's military leader, has been the most vocal critics of the new leader, hinting at divisions between a political leadership based in Pakistan and fighters in Afghanistan.

Shashank Joshi, a senior research fellow at the Royal United Services Institute, said the leadership question had not triggered fresh splits but instead illustrated existing fractures that could devalue any peace process.

“The biggest question,” he said, “is if there is a settlement, will it be upheld in Afghanistan?”

A member of the Taliban talks team said he did not know when meetings would resume, however, he insisted that any splits would soon be resolved.

“If anyone does not obey the new chief of the Taliban then he will be not in the Taliban,” he said simply.

Funeral prayers were held in a number of Pakistani cities to remember Mullah Omar.

A statement circulated by the Taliban appeared to be an attempt to head off splits, conferring on the new leader the title of "Commander of the Faithful” just like that used by Mullah Omar.

"After [Omar's] death the leadership council and Islamic scholars of the country, after long consultations, appointed his close and trusted friend and his former deputy Mullah Akhtar Mansour as the leader," it said.

"When Mullah Omar was alive, Mullah Mansoor was considered a trustworthy and appropriate person to take this heavy responsibility."